PHOENIX, ARIZONA – A common thread connects businesses, faith, neighborhood, schools, and local government when it comes to an area recently branded 19 North. The area encompasses Montebello to Dunlap along the 19th Avenue light rail extension and surrounding neighborhoods.

The 19 North Alliance was born from this vision of collaborating, and the diversity represented is unprecedented. Groups that have served individually are sitting at the table collaborating for the exponential benefit of our community. “I kept hearing the same thing as I met with different individuals who all have a vested interest in the area: a safe, walkable destination with a sense of unity and vitality,” Shannon McBride, Chairperson for the 19 North Alliance, recalls. “If we’re all saying the same thing in different pockets, wouldn’t it bring strength and get things moving if we were all in the same room, working across silos, to get things done.”

Around the 19 North Alliance table sit several faith communities (including Open Door Fellowship Church represented by Shannon McBride, Pastor of Fellowship and Community), Washington Elementary Schools (WESD), representatives from Councilman Valenzuela’s office, City of Phoenix Neighborhood Services & Village Planning, local businesses like Abrazo, Devry and Beatitudes as well as neighborhood associations including Marywood, Royal Palm, and Washington Park.

This powerhouse team has built incredible momentum with their collective ideas, resources and connections. Branding for 19 North will hang from light posts along 19th Avenue in the coming weeks, inspired by the historic Good Shepherd building on 19th Avenue and Northern. The team is also in talks to use city-owned land as a community garden. Unlike neighborhood or private gardens, this first-of-its-kind-in-the-state public garden is a unique cooperative across City, faith, neighbors, schools and businesses. Discussion with local landowners and the City are also underway in hopes of establishing a community arts center for 19 North.

Aligning with the vision statement of a safe, walkable, unique destination, the Alliance is also; working with Phoenix Police and WESD schools to establish a student mentoring program, assisting the City with blight and safety concerns, and offering a 19 North Service Summit on December 6, 2016 focusing on employment resources for the area.

The public is invited to a community meeting on October 7, 2016, from 6-8pm at Open Door Fellowship Church (southeast corner of Butler Ave and 19th Ave) to hear more about the revitalization under way. Contact Shannon McBride, 19 North Community Alliance Chair, with questions at info@19North.org.

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19 North is a collaborative community – where businesses, faith, the City of Phoenix, government, schools and neighborhood groups are working together to revitalize the area for all to enjoy.